It’s hard to believe the current Hyundai Tucson was first seen in 2020 because it still looks remarkably cutting-edge. The mask of mirrored daytime running lights, the sword-like trim around the greenhouse, the intricate taillights, none of it looks old. However, it’s coming to the end of its model cycle, and you know what that means. Hyundai’s just unveiled the new Tucson and not only does it look strong and chiseled, its interior might make you think twice about splashing the cash on some entry-level luxury crossovers.
While many manufacturers seem focused on making their smaller cars look like their bigger ones, Hyundai’s taken a rather different approach. The outgoing Tucson looks nothing like a Santa Fe, which looks completely different than a Palisade, which only shares just enough visual DNA with a Kona to remind you they come from the same company. The new Tucson is much the same, enhancing a few things that worked well on the old model while changing everything else.
It all starts with a wild lighting signature that’s nothing like anything else on the road. A one-piece horizontal light bar complements two vertical LED strips to create a giant “H” set into a body-color upper fascia. The actual headlights are tucked down lower on the bumper, with dark housings that blend in with the black valence. Moving around to the side of the new Tucson, just about the only cue kept from the old model is a pair of prominent rear fender bulges, now even cripser. Beyond that, everything’s been squared-off, from the hoodline to the greenhouse to the cladding. Big strips of silver and huge-looking wheels give this crossover a concept car stance, and it’s all capped off with rear lights that mimic the signature of the front daytime running lights.
Beyond the squarer styling, the current Santa Fe’s sheer spaciousness and rich feature set have allowed Hyundai to really grow the Tucson. The new model rides on a wheelbase some 1.2 inches longer than the old car’s, which should theoretically translate to a bit more interior room. Parents will probably love how the rear doors open 10 degrees wider than on the outgoing Tucson, and hat-wearers are likely to appreciate the extra 1.14 inches of rear headroom.
If you thought the styling of the new Tucson punched above its weight, wait until you see the interior. It takes a page from the three-row Palisade with rounded upholstered forms, open-pore woods, and not a single piece of shiny black plastic anywhere in sight. This is a richer-looking cockpit than what you get in many actual luxury cars, a testament to how shapes and materials actually matter. In the center of the dashboard, you’ll find Hyundai’s new PLEOS infotainment system, and although the number of physical buttons has been pared down, Hyundai’s kept a nice selection. Heated seat controls, volume and tuning knobs, and basic climate controls all sit nicely in a row beneath the screen, and all the multi-function steering wheel controls are pleasingly real.
Speaking of usability, there’s loads in here that just make sense. Take the center console, for example. The armrest looks like it came off a fancy sofa, but right next to it are wide trays for wireless phone charging and oddment storage, along with solid-looking cup holders. There’s a card holder to the left of the steering wheel to make keeping track of parking garage tickets easier, and the rotatable column-mounted Bop-It shifter found in the outgoing Tucson has been replaced with a far more conventional column-mounted stalk. The door handles are real door handles, the HVAC vents adjust as you’d expect with little nubs, the glovebox hasn’t succumbed to the electric latch epidemic, and the digital gauge cluster is mounted high up on the dash, close to your line of sight.
Hyundai hasn’t officially announced powertrain options for the new Tucson yet, but the little “12-volt battery reset” button to the left of the steering wheel in press photos suggests it will continue to offer some sort of hybrid system. By the way, that button’s like a built-in jump starter in case you run the 12-volt battery module down. A smart decision, especially if you’ve ever had to wait for roadside assistance before.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the new Hyundai Tucson, but it’s safe to say that it’s visually wild inside and out. It’s almost hard to imagine having one pull up as an Uber or getting one as a rental car, but given how the compact crossover is now the default genre of car, it’s going to happen sooner or later. After all, when you know a car’s going to be popular, why not make it look cool?
Top graphic image: Hyundai
I dont mind the gauge cluster, after all most new vehicles I’ve driven its 90% watching the speed, fuel and temp gauges. But the floating center screen. Hate it on all vehicles I’ve seen it in. Manufacturers seem afraid to blend them into the dash for fear of making the dash look bulky.
“…surprisingly nice interior…”
Where?
There’s a famous quote about Trump that I think can be applied to Hyundai interiors (including Kia and Genesis):
“A stupid man’s idea of a smart interior, a poor man’s idea of a rich interior, and a tacky man’s idea of a classy interior”
But having said that, I do give credit to the Hyundai group for using more COLORS in their interiors.
That’s probably on purpose. Think of how intelligent your average person is, then realize that half of all people are even dumber than that.
Personally, I don’t mind it. I wouldn’t call it nice, but it’s far better than your average new car.
I really don’t like the current Tucson, so this is a big improvement. It’s a little busy for me, so I’d still go CRV then RAV4 if forced, but I’m not looking for a mid-size CUV anyway.
I’m trying to decide whether I like the gauge “cluster” or not. I really dislike the recent trend (including the current Tucson) of just slapping a screen in front of the driver with no hood, so I think this is a little better since it’s at least a little more visually appealing? It’s also better than getting rid of the gauge cluster like Tesla does.
Feels like they took the last gen Tuscon and crossed it with a current gen Land Cruiser. Doesn’t do it for me, but they’ll sell a million of ’em.
It has the soulless aesthetics of a modern McDonalds on the inside.
While that is a great insult (seriously, top tier), I think McDonald’s looks better than this.
What a nice shelf behind the steering wheel to put my phone so I can watch it while I drive…
Ten years from now M O D E L N A M E is going to look as dated and fixed in time as Altezza lights do today.
Agreed. Remember when things had logos and not just the name with excess kerning? That was superior.
At least it has a name. We’ve seemingly moved on from the Star Wars droid naming conventions of the early aughts.
I’m sure that’s the highest trim of course, and the base to mid trims probably look nothing like that (in the interior). That being said, it looks awfully nice inside. The lack of real buttons is total ass, but at least the rest of it is relatively good.
The exterior is fine except the ultra-high beltline is a bummer. I hate that the only vehicle that seems intent on allowing me to see out of it is the Forester.
I don’t love it, but don’t hate it either. At least it is different. It will likely grow on me like the current Santa Fe has, though I seem to prefer Kia’s design language overall.
An interior of shockingly nice quality it might be (it’s not a surprise, the quality of the HyunKia interiors has been top notch for quite a while), but shockingly nice it is not.
It’s slammed-on ipod with no buttons after everyone else. A pure waste, after being the only brand who actually cared about making their screens look like a classic dash, with curves and all.
Looks like there’s a strip of physical buttons below the screen. I think I can see some basic HVAC, heated seat controls, and at least two knobs but not sure.
It seems odd that Hyundai would swing back the otherway after they’ve been adding more buttons to the few models that previously reduced them greatly.
Heated seats are definitely on the same touch strip as Carplay.
Could be there is a physical strip, but still. That’s a huge step back even from the idiotic current dual function Media/HVAC strip that you have to toggle
Assuming the bumper to bumper and power train warrantees are still better than almost everything else.
Would be great if it has a PHEV option, especially if they can squeeze 50+ miles battery alone.
It looks very creas-y. The interior looks very of-the-moment, but I would definitely prefer more buttons and a bit less screen. I also don’t think that the excessive styling on the outside looks luxurious, just busy and kinda toy-like. That said, I’m sure they’ll sell bunches of them. I will be interested to see what the powertrain options are going to be.
I wanted to give credit to Hyundai for their styling, but they’re drifting off to making everything “chunky” with slabs and tall beltlines.
It does not spark joy.
I see that they removed all of the French Curves from the Hyundai exterior designers office and they managed to find the molds for the Austin Allegro steering wheel
10, maybe 15 years ago you could never have convinced me that I’d own a Hyundai/Kia. Now I actually do, and for the past 3 or 4 years, I’ve been very impressed by their offerings.